cleaning carbon from tops of pistons?

[coloradoe92m3]

What kind of job is it to remove the heads and then clean carbon off tops of pistons? Changing plugs the other day I peaked in chamber with flashlight and saw black carbon build up on the piston tops. Or is it worth it to do this? Assume it increases chance of burning too hot, detonation and overall lower performance?

[dparm]

Originally Posted by coloradoe92m3

What kind of job is it to remove the heads and then clean carbon off tops of pistons? Changing plugs the other day I peaked in chamber with flashlight and saw black carbon build up on the piston tops. Or is it worth it to do this? Assume it increases chance of burning too hot, detonation and overall lower performance?

Some carbon buildup is normal. If the car is in good mechanical condition, and you're feeding it the required premium gas, I would just leave it be.

[pbonsalb]

It is a very big job. Have you ever pulled and reinstalled a head? Two heads with dual vanos is a very big job.

[MFL]

Run some methanol

[e92zero]

I am actually surprise there is no kit out there that screw something into the spark plug hole, crank the engine to tdc for that cylinder, inject some cleaner, let it sit/soak for 15-20 minutes, then suck it back out. Shouldn't be that big a job while changing spark plug. (Or maybe there is already something like this out ther). I don't know how effective this would be. And there would be no risk in harming other sensors like seaform or other cleaner? Think this is feasible or this is just a stupid idea?

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

It is a very big job. Have you ever pulled and reinstalled a head? Two heads with dual vanos is a very big job.

More than 30 minutes?

[pbonsalb]

Maybe you can walnut blast the chamber like people do the backs of the valves. I have never done this but I have cleaned piston tops when I gave the head off for whatever it is worth since the carbon will return.

[edwinm3]

Why even bother? If it ain't broke don't fix it!

[thekurgan]

Techron + Italian tuneup, might help, might not, fun either way.

[s85e90]

Originally Posted by e92zero

I am actually surprise there is no kit out there that screw something into the spark plug hole, crank the engine to tdc for that cylinder, inject some cleaner, let it sit/soak for 15-20 minutes, then suck it back out. Shouldn't be that big a job while changing spark plug. (Or maybe there is already something like this out ther). I don't know how effective this would be. And there would be no risk in harming other sensors like seaform or other cleaner? Think this is feasible or this is just a stupid idea?

There is. It's called seafoam.

[coloradoe92m3]

I give Italian tuneup daily and tech ton often so prob as good as it gets

[m3ray]

Use a toothbrush

[m3ray]

Why are you worried about this anyways? You don't have a DI engine.

[8k3]

I run seafoam every once in a while. Wish I could report what my pistons look like. Car runs great

[coloradoe92m3]

Originally Posted by m3ray

Why are you worried about this anyways? You don't have a DI engine.

Lol huh? Carbon build up is carbon build up. DI has higher build up around valves but has nothing whatsoever to do with carbon on pistons in combustion chamber